Tuesday, February 17, 2009

I am now on day three past my due date and nothing is happening. It is quite frustrating, even though I know that most first time moms go past their due dates by 8 days. Other people I know who were due later than me in February already have their babies! But I also know one woman who was recently induced. I prefer not to be induced, so I am trying to get things going by doing everything I can.On Sunday we went to eat a salad in the Valley that is supposed to bring on labor. About three hours later I started having contractions. It lasted on and off all night, but Monday morning it was all gone. I feel very premenstrual, but the cramping is not really happening. We went to the Dr. yesterday and I am 2+cm dilated. He strongly suggested that I let him strip my membranes. At first I said no, but then the Dr. brought it up again and I decided to let him do it. It did not hurt as much as I thought it would, it was mainly just very uncomfortable. He said that it may increase the chance of my water breaking and he seemed to think that it would start my labor soon. Nothing has happened.I am thinking of going to have that salad again today.

Monday, February 9, 2009

I went to the mall today to walk with my mom since it has been raining here in Los Angeles off and on today. We hit Target first and I went to use the restroom. I saw what appeared to be a bloody tinge in my underwear but wasn't sure. Then we did a loop around the mall and ended up back in Target, so I used the restroom again and sure enough, there was a spot of blood. So I am thinking this might be part of the mucus plug? Maybe, please? Yesterday I was feeling really achy and at the end of my rope, today I have been feeling odd sensations off and on. I am hoping the end is near.I am going to keep busy the rest of the day, putting odds and ends away and making the apartment as neat as possible, just in case I go into labor tonight.We have been having sex to try to get things moving, however, so maybe that's what caused the blood? I don't know. I am just hopeful.The crib mattress arrived today, so we are officially ready for this baby. Maybe I'll take some pictures of the nursery later tonight too.The Le Bernadin episode of Top Chef was last week and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

After my visit with my Dr. yesterday, all afternoon I was thinking how happy I was that I had switched doctors. I switched at about 31-32 weeks after finding out that my previous doctor was not as on board with our delivery wishes as he had previously told us.We would have known this if we had been more educated about labor and delivery prior to being five months along, but as we learned more about it and started asking questions about how he practiced, we learned that he was probably not the right doctor for us.He also really scared me about the size of my baby at five months - telling me that it was too big.Anyway, I was hesitant to switch doctors at that point because I was worried that no other doctor would be available to deliver me, that another doctor would just confirm what my current doctor said and make me feel even worse, or that it would just be a giant hassle.Thankfully, I had friends and family that encouraged me to at least look into it. My husband suggested we go to our original doctor with our concerns, but I felt that I already knew that I didn't agree with him and had lost trust in him and this had permanently damaged my relationship with him. Even if the original doctor agreed to compromise on some of his stands for us, I would be left worrying that he would try to bully us into something that we did not want in the delivery room, which was the experience that several of my friends had with their doctors. Who wants to be arguing with a doctor while in labor? No thank you!I learned that my own mother had switched doctors a week before my older brother's birth because he had told her at the last minute that my father would not be allowed in the delivery room after all. After I heard that, I knew that I could handle the switch, so I put out a call for suggestions and called the doctor that came the most highly recommended and who accepted our insurance.The receptionist told me he was available to deliver me, I made an appointment, went to meet him and found him to be incredibly nice and way more in line with what we wanted. We are not crazy progressive people in terms of my labor and delivery, by the way, all I wanted was to not be induced unless there was some concern for the baby's health or mine.Anyway, each visit to the new doctor I am reminded how glad I am that I made the change. To anyone who is thinking about it, I'd totally suggest to make an appointment or two with another doctor just to see how you feel after wards. You may realize your current doctor is just fine, or you may realize you'll be much happier somewhere else.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

That's what the doctor found today when he checked my cervix. And he could feel the baby's head through my cervix for the first time. I know that doesn't really mean anything, but I am hoping that it happens sooner than later. I am ready.He also showed me on the ultra sound that the baby's head is 10.1 cm in diameter and suggested that I have the baby sooner, since I will have to dilate the extra .1 to fit the baby's head out through me. I asked if I had created this giant headed baby by eating too much and he reassured me that no, I didn't do it, that it is genetic. I said that made sense since my family has really big heads. He added, "and Mom gave birth vaginally, no problems, right?" which made me feel much better.I am so happy that we switched doctors!After my appointment I went to Whole Foods and bought red raspberry leaf tea and evening primrose oil because the Dr said they might work for inducing labor. He also mentioned walking, nipple stimulation and sex. I will try any and all of those! Although I am not quite sure how to accomplish the sex part. I'm sure B will have some ideas.By tomorrow night I will definitely have the following finished: car seat installed, nursery art up, hospital bag packed.